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Part of the money for the courts would come from state grants, with counties picking up part of the tab.

"I think that on both sides of the aisle, people recognize we're in the middle of a heroin epidemic and that we need to take a multifaceted approach," said Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro. "Drug court is one part of that."

The $3 million plan announced at Manchester City Hall would provide grant money to counties without such courts and would aid counties where these courts are already in place.

The move is largely in response to the deadly rise in opiate abuse in New Hampshire, but it will also help other addicts who opt into an 18-month program. Officials said the courts target people who have reached close to rock bottom.

"Individuals that are high-risk and high-need, which means a high risk to re-offend," Judge Kenneth Brown said. "They're going to commit another crime to feed their addiction. High-need means they need constant supervision."

Under the bill, each court must show a working partnership with a rehabilitation center willing to help those in the system. Lawmakers who support the program said that between the state's general fund and the existing budget, the money is there to fund the courts.

The Superior Court in Manchester would get a drug court under the plan. Officials said there were 101 overdoses in the city last month, and 10 were fatal.

"Even if it helps one person, but again, it's shrinking that pool of people who are suffering from the disease of addiction," Police Chief Nick Willard said. "So this is a right step in a right direction."

Supporters of the bill said that if it's fast-tracked, it could be on the governor's desk by February, with the new courts opening sometime around April.